Jack Turner Application

8/14/2019 Jack Turner Application

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Jack Turner2331 Kaiser Rd. NW, Olympia, WA 98502

(360) 956-2975; (360) 878-7095(c)

[email protected]) How I am uniquely qualified.

It was during the Reagan era when I began working for the United States Forest Service.

That era followed by Newt Gingrich’s Republican Revolution, established budget cutsand shortfalls as the norm throughout my fifteen-year career with the federal government.I spent most of my time working in one of the most poorly funded offices in the nation,located in central Arizona, yet paradoxically, had the ability to get things accomplished.In fact, this particular office was recognized by Congress in the late 1990s for itsachievement in being able to develop partnerships and build relationships both at thevarious public levels as well as government, local to federal, and including the privatesector too. One particular achievement of this office was written about in the book Beyond the Rangeland Conflict: Toward a West that Works by Dan Dagget and for whichI was interviewed. It was here that I began establishing myself as a leader in difficulttimes.

Through this experience, I realized early on that the health of the environment isinterdependent with the health of the community. I went back to school here to attend theLeadership Institute of Seattle so I could expand and gain skills in leadership, communitydevelopment, negotiating, conflict resolution, communication, and relationship andpartnership building. One of my greatest experiences was participating in a mock publichearing where a juvenile detention center was planned in a neighborhood. My role wasone of the neighbors belonging to a neighborhood association that would be impacted bythe proposal. In a group of 18 people, I brought forward the concerns and possibleresolution that when presented to the mock city council, won approval.

This experience served me later in “real life” working for the Skokomish Indian Tribenegotiating watershed and utility plans with Tribal Council and County and PUD’s staff and elected officials. Work with the Tribe required involvement with staff and electedofficials from city councils to the county, state and federal levels. I was instrumental inbuilding a consensus on a watershed plan that involved two counties, two PUD’s, anIndian Tribe and local citizens. I was the co-author of a forest restoration plan ordered byU. S. Congressman Norm Dicks. And I single handedly negotiated the revival of a $2million state and federally funded estuary restoration project in Puget Sound that wasnearly aborted due to legal entanglements.

These accomplishments were successful because of my ability to work with different

entities, to think out-of-the-box with the whole in mind, to creatively solve problems, andbridge diverse interests, opinions, and issues. Rarely can an individual speak to theirposition and listen to others to come toward an agreement of how to plan and take actionat a holistic level, as I have been able to in the last 15 years working on rural issues at thegrassroots level. I have the ability to facilitate a culture of collaboration to buildpartnerships and to establish consensus in order to take action and get things done. Andthat, ability to gain a broad range of support with various interest groups, from theenvironment to business to rural landowners and of course, tribes, makes me uniquelyqualified as a County Commissioner.




(360) 956-2975; (360) 878-7095(c)

[email protected]

3) How do I stand prepared to stand for election in 2009 and again in 2010?

It is commendable for anyone to enter into this position while at the same time gearing upfor two consecutive elections all beginning less than a year after being appointed.Having been elected to student council and vice-chair for the county’s Storm and SurfaceWater Advisory Board, this will be my first major election. It is a task that I, with honor,accept, commit to, and will accomplish.

Serving in the appointed position will most certainly bring name and characterrecognition due to my personable nature and my ability to gain broad support fromenvironmental groups, business owners, rural landowners and tribes. I will also be anincumbent which is an additional advantage in being elected and then re-elected. Andnaturally as a Democrat and being appointed by the Thurston County Democratic Party, I

will be running on the Party ticket for both elections of 2009 and 2010

Already a base of support has formed for this appointment that I will be relying on fornext year and the re-election campaign. I am committed to hiring a campaign managerand treasurer with experience. The base also includes Democratic Party officials, fellowCounty Commissioners, current and past, and supporters who have known me for sometime and believe in my capacity to hold this position through the next six years andlonger if desired. These supporters have already stepped forward, willing to knock ondoors and make phone calls. I am, as well, committed to doorbelling and making phonecalls in addition to attending the Democratic Party campaigning school with the goalbeing elected and re-elected.

Also, I have been successful in raising over $2 million dollars, through grant writingefforts, for projects to improve the environment. Other fundraising efforts include raisingmoney for Big Brothers Big Sisters, American Red Cross, City of Hope and the MuscularDystrophy Association.

Finally, I believe the election of 2009 and 2010 will be a vote of confidence as to theprogress I am making in dealing with budget shortfalls and providing services that arelooking out for the most vulnerable and improving the quality of health of the citizens.More than any time in recent history, this position will be scrutinized as to whether I canearn the respect of the voters with the decisions and actions I take as County

Commissioner. And it will be because of my ability to build bridges and my personablecharacter that I will earn that respect.




(360) 956-2975; (360) 878-7095(c)

[email protected]) What do I intend to accomplish?

I believe that we will continue to face economic challenges countywide, statewide and

nationally for at least the next couple years. Reduced revenue should be expected and thecounty could be faced with a decline in funding. Balancing the budget and living withinour means is a must and a great challenge as departments will be hard pressed to makefurther cutbacks. And I will accomplish a balanced budget. And it will also be importantto prepare for the recovery when that happens, and it will. Thus, keeping programs intact that have taken time to build will be protected and finding ways to keep staff onboard as part of the downturn and the subsequent recovery is another objective I intend toaccomplish.

Balancing the budget after this year will require redefining essential services that aremost characteristic of these times and must emphasize improving the quality of life of our

citizens and looking out for the most vulnerable. The county should not add to itscitizens’ hardships.

Once having an updated definition of our essential resources, I will be proposing theprioritization of those resources. The citizens must know where the county is putting itsenergy and what it intends to accomplish. And the citizens need to be assured that thecounty is living within its means and spending the taxpayers’ dollars prudently.

To accomplish this will require more commitment to cross program communication. Bothgenerally and utility/permit funded departments should be networking with each other tosurface duplicative efforts and opportunities to share resources to get the work the county

has prioritized done. This will be reported back to the administration, policy anddecision-makers to set up for balancing the budget for 2010.

In closing, I would hope to meet and shake the hand of every county staff person andmeet personally with those that are laid off and/or facing challenging times at home.

And finally, it is my intent to be elected in 2009 and re-elected in 2010 to serve anotherfour-year term and continue the work and momentum of my previous term.

To sum up, what I intend to accomplish is:

• Balancing the budget,

• Proposal to redefine essential services and prioritize those resources,• Cross department networking and reporting,

• Strategizing for both downturn and recovery,

• Meeting staff and personally those who have been laid off and,

• Being elected in 2009 and re-elected in 2010.

Documents

Jack Turner Application